Annoyance of individual vehicle pass-by noise for light and heavy vehicles

Abstract

A laboratory experiment has been conducted to assess the noise annoyance of individual vehicle pass-bys as a function of sound level. Vehicle type varied from passenger cars to heavy tanks. Results showed that for each individual vehicle type, the A-weighted sound exposure level (SEL) was the most important predictor of the annoyance. However, at a given annoyance, the difference in level between different vehicle types could be as high as 11 dBA SEL. The difference in level between the high-frequency part and the low-frequency part of the spectrum seemed to play a role in the annoyance, in that sounds containing relatively much high-frequency energy (e.g., passenger cars) were judged as being more annoying than those having relatively much low-frequency energy (such as tanks). [Work supported by the Ministry of Defence.]

Subjective dominance as a basis for selecting frequency weightings

“…This finding is consistent with previous research suggesting that the HF frequency range generally makes the greatest contribution to reported annoyance attributed to road-traffic-noise (Versfeld et al, 1994;Versfeld and Vos, 1997;Kim et al, 2009). Zwicker´s loudness-level, and both the A-and D-frequency weightings achieved the highest correlations with reported annoyance under outdoors conditions.…”

“…However, other studies found that any high frequency components present can have a greater effect on annoyance (Versfeld and Vos, 1997;Kim et al, 2009). Versfeld et al (1994) found that the relative difference in level between the high frequency and low frequency parts of the spectrum can have a significant effect on annoyance in addition to the effect of overall sound level measured in absolute terms.…”